Church responds to latest Big Love dust-up
 

I tried to like that show. It was incredibly boring.

I'm sure a press release like this is exactly what the producers were hoping for to create buzz.

Yep. The church should just ignore it and move on. Protesting these things never does any good at all. Ask the Catholic Church how their Da Vinci Code protests worked out.

The wording of the press release is amusing, though. Basically saying a boycott would really hurt those companies, and the church wouldn't be opposed, but the church won't request that people boycott, they should just do what is right (i.e., boycott).

Is the church going to threaten a boycott of Skinemax and the Playboy Channel next, lol?

How many apostles are watching HBO I wonder?

Hmm. That press release manages to say very little. That's about as good as saying "we're ignoring this" but still acknowledge the problem.

I'm not sure what you expected. Is the problem of media distortion and/or exposing what we consider sacred an issue the church can do something about without drawing undue additional attention?

Or more importantly, can the church expect such results from its membership acting against it?

We should ignore it. The show is on its last legs and it should be ignored.

I don't disagree. But AA seemed underwhelmed and I'm curious why.

I think the statement is more than they should have done. If they had refused to acknowledge the show's existence that would have been a better cut. For the record, I have never seen the show, but then again there are many shows I have never seen.

However, for those who view it, they tell me it is boring.

They can't ignore it because they have this compulsion to control their members' very thoughts.

you're overplaying your board persona on this one.

They want to comment because they want to look powerful, but power in this instance would be in total restraint.

But then again those in the PR department are bored and need something to do. Afterall, you can only issue so many no comment letters about why somebody has been excommunicated for being photographed with his shirt off.

I'm currently boycotting HBO anyway. Too expensive.

Why would I buy a premium channel when I don't watch the regular channels?

Back in the day, when I did watch HBO, more than two decades ago, my main complaint was the continuous replay of the same shows. Does it still suffer from that problem?

I understand they now have their own original programming, with some sports stuff such as boxing matches, but what else does it offer?

The only reason to have HBO is the original programming and the boxing.

So it made sense to have it when The Sopranos were on. Not anymore. Don't care enough about the boxing to fork out the dough. And the biggest fights are PPV and replayed a week later.

I'm already boycotting HBO too. I haven't seen it for six or seven years. But I don't want to appear to support the LDS boycott. What shall I do?

order the Playboy channel.

What is there to be excited about? The church essentially just issued a press release that said they aren't going to take a position on a boycott (but seemed to implicitly support its members attempts to boycott).

What is their goal with the press release?

Tell people they are aware of the problem? Why is this important for us to know?

Tell members they are free to boycott HBO? Do any members think they aren't free to boycott HBO for some reason?

Tell members they won't encourage a boycott? Why is this important for us to know?

Tell HBO not to film the episode? Isn't this exactly what HBO wants them to do to draw attention to the episode?

I don't understand the purpose of the press release. It takes multiple paragraphs to say nothing, and so they would have been better off actually saying nothing.

Heh. Nice troll.

Are you suggesting you know the answer? Enlighten us all then.

Not at all. I think it's a perfect response. If it's underwhelming, it was supposed to be.

If the church threw a fit, it would draw attention to the show. If it stayed silent, it would appear cowardly, or maybe ignorant. Here they simply say, "Yeah, we heard. Jerks. Oh well."

A short report about the Big Love endowment ceremony "dust-up" was on an entertainment aggregator on imdb.com.

HBO offered an apology of sorts, but did not pull it.

It will be interesting to see what the fallout is.

"Do you guys have an endowment ceremony?"
yes.
"Is it like the thing on Big Love?"
I don't know, I haven't seen it.
"Do you guys do x, y, z?"
I'm really uncomfortable talking about this, because it's not something that Mormons discuss even amongst each other.
"Why not?"
I'm not sure. Some say because it's so sacred.
"Do you think it's weird?"
No, I think it's perfectly normal. What do you do in your church?

Why do some religious people and religious sects expect a pass from critical scrutiny or parody just because the subject matter is religious? I don't get it.

Sooner says the LDS Church doesn't want it exposed simply because the dress is embarrassing.

Sooner is embarrassed by the clothing, and if taken out of context the ceremony could be misrepresented and distorted. The Church wants a fair representation, including the symbolic meaning, which lookie-seers will not bother to investigate.

People do not wish to be ridiculed regarding certain matters important to them. Do you wish for people to ridicule you for your singing voice or penis size? Why should you avoid scrutiny?

I shouldn't. I'm sure if I were a true public figure I'd be savaged on all fronts.

But you would do your darndest to protect your family, no matter what.

This has nothing to do with anyone's family. Religions have now been the butt of jokes and parody and dramatized now for a long time. Did you laugh at the Penguin in the Blues Brothers? Was Tolstoy in bad taste depicting Orthodox Christian ceremonies and liturgy? Why should the endowment ceremony be a sacrd cow? You're all acting like radical Muslims.

"I'm not sure?" That's certainly not how I'd respond.

It's an honest reply for many persons.

I won't discuss it because I said I wouldn't. Why was I asked? I'm not certain, as those requirements were set forth during the 18th Century, and those setting that requirement are no longer living.

I dissent, counselor. The show is better than ever and its ratings are up. It was just cleared for a fourth season.

Perhaps Big Love is an aquired taste, but I love it.

I think the proper response to this is to try and capitalize on it.

"Intriguing, isn't it?"

I think a lot of people find symbology and ritual interesting. No reason to run.

Heh, amusing. The guy that said "thou shalt not covet" has been dead a lot longer, but I'm guessing you've figured that one out in the meantime.

There's actually quite a bit that can be discussed outside the temple. It's not like there's anything particularly earth-shattering about the story of Adam and Eve, or covenants of obedience, sacrifice, chastity, etc. What we covenant not to reveal are tokens and signs.

Don't I reveal tokens everytime I am at the gym in the lockerroom?

The point is that there is a lot of grey area. Can you talk about them abstractly? Can you talk about the covenants, specifically? Can you talk about the covenants, that were previously required? Can you talk about the dress/costume? etc, etc.

I have no idea what you do with men in the lockerroom, and I really don't want to.

Yes, there's gray. You are Whiner-In-Chief about how oppressive the church can be with it's rules. Congratulations, on this one you get to make the call. The only specific covenant not to reveal something surrounds tokens and signs. As to the rest, judge wisely.

I have no problem discussing the covenants with anyone. I tend not to discuss temple clothing because it only makes sense in the context of the ceremony, so someone who hasn't participated won't get it. But I suppose you could tell them, for all the good it would do.

Tex, do you have a citation on this, or is it just your opinion?

I think most people who watch it are going to yawn. However I suspect there are going to be some super-pissed Masons!

That's not a joke either. Imagine if a new religion started up by ex-Mormons used the temple ceremony and changed it up a bit for their own purposes.

Any publicity is good publicity. Every conversation that is brought up about this from your friends should end with you inviting them to a church meeting.

My opinion. But I'll look and see if I can find some cites for ya.

Orson Scott Card on Big Love:
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q...TRlMzg=&w=MA==

Ho-hum.

LOL. "Anger never pursuades anybody." Did he just recently learn that?